Allow homosexuals to donate blood

MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO, TMC

MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO, TMC

Opinion: End arcane federal ban on homosexual blood donors

Blood bank supplies are desperately low and begging for donations. People die every day because of the blood shortages, so can anyone tell me why the federal government is forcing the blood banks to turn away healthy, willing donors? For those unaware, homosexuals are banned from donating blood by the federal government. I am happily married with four children, so you may think I have no dog in this fight, but I do, and so do you.

Car accidents, household accidents, unexpected illnesses and violent crime are just a few of the reasons you or I could one day need a blood transfusion that may not be available because of this arcane ban. Proponents of the ban claim it's to prevent spreading disease, yet all donated blood is tested for diseases anyway.

There is no viable reason for the ban other than pure bigotry and intolerance. Thank God the people who created this ban and continue to allow it to endure were not in power during the days of civil rights. I implore you, my fellow readers: Please join me in petitioning our elected officials to get this ridiculous ban removed. Our lives might just depend on it.